Parmaceutical

Abstract

Use of one or more prenylation inhibitors, cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitors or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The invention also encompasses a pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment of HCV infection, the pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more agents capable of inhibiting prenylation, cholesterol biosynthesis or HMG-CoA reductase in the liver, wherein the one or more agents is optionally admixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.

1 . A method for the treatment of hepatitis C infection comprising the step of administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a prenylation inhibitor or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said prenylation inhibitor is a statin or statin-like compound.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said statin is atorvastatin or an analogue, derivative, variant or mimetic thereof.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein said prenylation inhibitor is administered separately, sequentially or simultaneously in combination with one or more anti-viral agents.  
     
     
         5 . A pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment of HCV infection, said pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more agents capable of inhibiting prenylation in the liver, wherein said one or more agents is optionally admixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.  
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 5 , wherein said one or more agents is a statin or statin-like compound.  
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 6 , wherein said statin is atorvastatin or an analogue, derivative, variant or mimetic thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical composition according to any one of  claims 5  to  7 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition further comprises one or more anti-viral agents.  
     
     
         9 . A method for treating an individual infected with HCV comprising administering to said individual a therapeutically effective amount of one or more agents capable of inhibiting prenylation in the liver, wherein said one or more agents is optionally admixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said one or more agents is a statin or statin-like compound.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said statin is atorvastatin or an analogue, derivative, variant or mimetic thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to any one of  claims 9  to  11 , wherein said method further comprises separate, sequential or simultaneous administration of one or more anti-viral agents.  
     
     
         13 . A method for the treatment of hepatitis C infection comprising the step of administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitor.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein said cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitor is a statin or statin-like compound.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said statin is atorvastatin or an analogue, derivative, variant or mimetic thereof.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to any one of  claims 13  to  15 , wherein said cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitor is administered separately, sequentially or simultaneously in combination with one or more anti-viral agents.  
     
     
         17 . A pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment of HCV infection, the pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more agents capable of inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver, wherein the one or more agents is optionally admixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.  
     
     
         18 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 17 , wherein the one or more agents is a statin or statin-like compound.  
     
     
         19 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the statin is atorvastatin or an analogue, derivative, variant or mimetic thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The pharmaceutical composition according to any one of  claims 17  to  19 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises one or more anti-viral agents.  
     
     
         21 . A method for treating an individual infected with HCV, the method comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of one or more agents capable of inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver, wherein the one or more agents is optionally admixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the one or more agents is a statin or statin-like compound.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the statin is atorvastatin or an analogue, derivative, variant or mimetic thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to any one of  claims 21  to  23 , wherein the method further comprises separate, sequential or simultaneous administration of one or more anti-viral agents.  
     
     
         25 . A method for the treatment of HCV infection comprising the step of administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase.  
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein said HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is a statin or statin-like compound.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein said statin is atorvastatin or an analogue, derivative, variant or mimetic thereof.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to any one of  claims 25  to  27 , wherein said HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is administered separately, sequentially or simultaneously in combination with one or more anti-viral agents.  
     
     
         29 . A pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment of HCV infection, the pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more agents capable of inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase in the liver, wherein the one or more agents is optionally admixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.  
     
     
         30 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 29 , wherein the one or more agents is a statin or statin-like compound.  
     
     
         31 . The pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 30 , wherein the statin is atorvastatin or an analogue, derivative, variant or mimetic thereof.  
     
     
         32 . The pharmaceutical composition according to any one of  claims 29  to  31 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition further comprises one or more anti-viral agents.  
     
     
         33 . A method for treating an individual infected with HCV, the method comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of one or more agents capable of inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase in the liver, wherein the one or more agents is optionally admixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient.  
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein the one or more agents is a statin or statin-like compound.  
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the statin is atorvastatin or an analogue, derivative, variant or mimetic thereof.  
     
     
         36 . The method according to any one of  claims 33  to  35 , wherein the method further comprises separate, sequential or simultaneous administration of one or more anti-viral agents.